A leather jacket is always in style and can be versatile and a work horse in the wardrobe. I have had this vintage striped leather jacket by celebrity fashion designer, Bradley Bayou for several years. It has been a great asset in my closet. I remember that when I bought it from QVC, it was on clearance and at a great price. I purchased it because I thought it was so different and cutting-edge cool. I wore it today going to church. I paired it with a black turtleneck from Macy’s, Isaac Mizrahi cuff pant, and Clarks ankle boots. I have not been fond of my hips; even though I work out every week. However, now I am thanking God for my hips and every inch of my body. You have to love yourself before you can love anyone else.
In the picture below I accessorized all the key pieces together without looking like I tried to hard. You know, I just woke up like this.
Bradley Bayou Leather Jacket
I like to have fun, but I am also showing how slimming the jacket is. It is soft and pliable; and is the perfect addition to any chic outfit . The horizontal stripe across the top does not widen the body; but it is actually is very slenderizing.
As an alternative I can dress this leather jacket for a night out with a wedge or embroidered boot, or high heel pump. It would also be great paired with jeans and boots for a more casual look. No matter how you style it, it will kick up your outfit to a higher level.
Bradley Bayou knows how to dress and flatter a woman’s body. His book The Science of Sexy: Dress to Fit Your Unique Figure with the Style System that Works for Every Shape and Size offers many great tips and ideas for all women. He does not design clothes as much anymore; but he is now designing beautiful homes. Take a look at his website, https://bradleybayou.com. I am happy to own a few of his pieces to wear and enjoy.
Maybe one day he can design my second home.
If you have a favorite leather jacket, let me know about it in the comments section below. How do you style it? Do you go more casual, more dressy, or somewhere in between?
Now that we’re in the middle of the winter-season, you probably have your wardrobe well-established. But, if you still want to look your best for the next couple of months, there are a few pieces to consider adding to your wardrobe. These are a few winter essentials for the remainder of this season, and for coming winter-seasons ahead.
A slim-puffer coat is a nice piece to add to your wardrobe as well. Today, manufacturers have perfected the traditional puffer coat, which left you with limited mobility. Newer coats are slimmer, allow for greater mobility, and still pack on the warmth, so you’ll feel warm, regardless of how cold it gets outside. And, you can choose from several material finishes, colours, and detail-design prints.
Tall boots with a fur-trim are a nice piece to accentuate any skinny jeans and long winter coat you own. Boots are warm, you can find several pairs with detail/trim work, and you can choose them in a stylish black, brown, or different colors, to go with your wardrobe pieces.
Skinny jeans. Just because it is winter doesn’t mean you have to wear sweatpants everywhere. Skinny jeans pair up well with knee-high or calf-high boots. They can be dressed up with a casual trench coat or dressed down with a jumper and thin overcoat. And, you can wear them virtually anywhere during the colder months of the year.
Suede or velvet pumps and a wool coat are also nice additions to your wardrobe. Of course, you need muffler ear warmers, the perfect leather gloves, and a scarf is the ideal accent-piece to any outfit. These are some of the many items you will want to have in your wardrobe during the winter months. Not only so you can find the perfect outfit for any occasion, but also so you can remain warm, no matter how cold the temperatures get outside. If you would like to look at some catalogues which offer these winter essentials then justcatalogues.co.uk can point you in the right direction.
Spring is almost here and the days have begun to get much brighter and less bitter than the past few months. It is the time that those massive coats go back in the wardrobe and we start to brave showing a bit of wrist once again.
One of the most fun seasons in the year to dress for is the spring because it is all about bright colours and floral patterns. There are thousands of items to choose from and this can make it almost impossible to choose that ideal outfit for the day.
JTwisdom
Go For Color Gone is the season for white, red and black… spring is about bursts of plenty of colour and happiness. Spring is the season where plants and flowers come back to life and this reflects in the fashion trends we see throughout. Bright accents of colors like pink, yellow and blue can work amazingly with skinny jeans and boots, and if it is warm enough a tea dress is ideal. Pastel colours like mint and peach are also popular at this time of year, and you can find them used frequently in cardigans and t shirts.
Don’t Forget Neutrals Due to all of the colour you are about to throw into your wardrobe, it is important to also have some neutral clothing pieces to work with and Pair alongside the bright colours. A simple pair of white or grey jeans, a white or black t shirt, even a pair of grey boots can be instrumental in creating the perfect outfit for this season.
Layer Up Layering is a technique which is used by many people to add multiple textures and plenty of character to an outfit. You will want to dress for the chilly temperatures as well as look stylish during the spring. One way to do this would be wearing a vest, cardigan and leather or denim jacket layered together for an effortlessly stylish look.
Light Fabrics Once the heat begins to increase a little, you will want to make the most of thinner materials such as chiffon and linen. Light and breezy is exactly what you will want during the spring to cover you but still provide the ability for the skin to breathe.
Patterns Like we have already mentioned, floral patterns are your best friend during the spring. Flowers are the focus of this season so if you can add a floral touch to your outfit you will instantly scream spring. Think floral skater skirts, graphic tees and even embroidered jackets.
Show Some Skin You don’t need to instantly take all of your winter clothes and cut off the sleeves or stitch it up higher: but spring is about showing a little more skin. Try wearing three quarter length bottoms or tops, short sleeved t shirts and linen shorts for comfort. You can make the most of the rising heat by letting your skin out to breathe, it will feel much more comfortable and help you to look like the perfect spring fashionista.
If you feel like you see a new emerging wrinkle every time you look in the mirror, it can become disheartening. You might feel like you are aging quickly and you are looking older than your years. Don’t worry, there are ways in which you can slow down the aging process. This doesn’t mean calling up the local plastic surgeon and going under the knife for all sorts of weird and wonderful cosmetic procedures. There is absolutely no need to take such a drastic step. Aging is part of life. However, this doesn’t make the visual effects any easier to cope with. Instead of worrying about the aging process, it’s important that you enjoy life and grasp every opportunity that comes your way.
While you may feel every new wrinkle is a crushing blow to your self-confidence, don’t wallow in the pit of self-pity. It’s time to do something about it. Take a look at these simple ways in which you can retain a youthful glow.
Diet Although it goes without saying, the key to every aspect of our health is our diet. With an unbalanced diet full of refined sugars, saturated fats and white carbs, we can look bloated, washed out and unhealthy. To achieve a healthier complexion, you need to be eating a more nutritionally balanced diet every day. Up your greens and oily fish portions to ensure your body is full of the iron, omega 3 and antioxidants it requires to retain a youthful glow.
Retain A Youthful Glow In 4 Easy Steps
You need to try and eat the rainbow every day. This doesn’t mean eating a bag of skittles every twenty-four hours. Instead, you should have an array of colorful fruits and vegetables every day to ensure you are giving your body its much-needed nutrients. Red peppers, beetroot, blueberries and bananas each contain vital vitamins and minerals to not only enhance your healthy complexion but also to boost your immune system. You could even add grapes to your daily routine, either with breakfast or as a snack. They contain sorbitol, a natural moisturizer that could stop your skin from becoming dry and flaky.
Exercise While you might not feel the urge to head to the gym when you see the crows feet around your eyes becoming ever more embedded, it’s vital that you try to stay active. By being on your feet, heading for daily brisk walks and taking part in fun activities such as dancing or aerobics, you can keep the pounds off. As you get older, it can become more difficult to shift any excess weight. Coupled with the odd niggle and pain that may accompany getting older, you need to ensure that you remain as active as possible.
Exercising is a great way of releasing the happy hormone and endorphins into your bloodstream. These are natural confidence boosters. While the wrinkles may not disappear, you may find yourself feeling less bothered by them and more confident in your own skin as you exercise more. Your cardiovascular fitness will increase, you’ll look leaner and fitter, and you will sleep better, leading to fewer bags under the eyes and a brighter complexion.
If dancing isn’t your thing and the gym leaves you in a cold sweat, why not think back to when you were at school and university. What sports did you love taking part in? If you enjoyed netball why not look for a local club? Ladies soccer is becoming more and more popular as thirty-somethings form five a side teams across the nation. You don’t even have to think of playing in a team sport as exercise, but more of a pastime, hobby and having fun. It’s a great way to meet some new like-minded people, make new friends and expand your social circle. This can help boost your confidence and self-esteem and you will begin feeling better about yourself.
Style Just because you can feel your chin sagging or your laughter lines developing, doesn’t mean you have to surrender to a fuddy-duddy wardrobe to match your mood. Head to the salon and explore a range of hair color ideas to cover your grays. While some women don’t mind seeing the odd sprouting gray hair, others allow it to knock their confidence. If you feel like you’d like to rid yourself of the grays, why not use it as an opportunity to try out a whole new look. If you’ve been a lifelong brunette, why not go blonde or have some fun as a redhead. You might want to change the style that you’ve had for the past decade. While you might be sad to say goodbye to your luscious locks, a whole new hairstyle could reinvigorate your confidence. Think about a mid-length bob, a pixie cut or some bangs.
When it comes to your wardrobe, you may have to forego the skimpier outfits, the shorter skirts and you may have to be a little more modest in your clothing choices, but you can still look stylish and show off your fashion credentials. Dress sharp, go for the figure-hugging attire and be proud of your body. A trouser suit with a pair of kitten heels looks formal yet fashionable. A pair of skinny jeans with a simple black or white top is a classic combination and can be worn at any age. Wear what you feel comfortable in, but don’t go for the baggy nondescript garments that swallow you up. You need to project your personality and express yourself through your wardrobe.
Lotions And Potions While there are many miracle wonders on the market claiming to reverse the aging process and return your face to the way it looked twenty years ago, these are fallacies. They use jargon and nonsense words to try and bamboozle you with pseudoscience. Instead, select a high-quality moisturizer, cleanser, exfoliator and toner. Each of these essential bits of kit will allow your skin to remain well hydrated, free from dirt, at a good pH balance and cleansed. Find the creams that are right for your skin type. This may not be the most expensive product on the market; simply go with what makes your skin feel most revitalized.
The hands are the part of our bodies that really show our age. You may find liver spots, wrinkles and protruding veins becoming more apparent on your hands. Invest in a good hand cream with added sunscreen to keep them moisturized and protect them from the sun’s rays that can add years to the appearance of your hands.
Getting older is part of life. It’s inevitable. What can be most shocking is the evidence of this on our faces and bodies. While you may have been confident a decade ago, the wrinkles, sagginess and general appearance of you growing older may have knocked your confidence. You need to learn to embrace your age, celebrate the signs of the aging process and accentuate the parts of your appearance that you are happy with. Get a new haircut, purchase some new garments for your wardrobe and enjoy cooking up some new healthy and nutritious culinary creations. Once you have implemented these ways of retaining a youthful glow, you’ll find that your confidence will be boosted and you’ll feel more positive about your age. Remember, age is merely a number; what’s more important is how old you feel.
You’ve finally decided it’s time to pop the question and you want to find the perfect ring to surprise her with. The pressure mounts as you begin to wonder what she’ll like. Then it hits you, you’re actually not so sure and certain of her taste in this realm.
When it comes to something that carries so much value and price, you don’t want to be feeling around in the dark. Therefore, we are going to suggest some top ways you can find out exactly what she likes so your engagement ring choice will tick all the right boxes.
It’s all find and dandy knowing exactly how you are going to propose, the location and exactly how you’re going to do it. If the ring doesn’t tick her boxes, the proposal may go downhill. To start getting a good idea of what you like, it’s a good idea to look into her current jewellery collection. This way you will start seeing common design styles she likes, her favourite coloured stones and so on. Ask yourself as you look through whether her style is more traditional, antique, contemporary or quirky? Maybe she loves her yellow gold or silver.
Question how she reacts to other engagement rings
It’s now or never. One of her friends gets engaged and she makes a comment on the ring. You need to start listening out for key things she likes and dislikes about engagement rings to build a bigger picture of what she will love.
Ask close friends and relatives
Asking the people close to her about her personal jewellery taste will be a good thing to do. It’s important however that you completely trust them to keep your secret. This way you will have a good and accurate picture of her preferences.
Find out her size
You’ll also want to get the correct size on the first hit. It’s best if you steal a ring of hers so you can take it to a sizer to get it accurately measured. This way you’ll get her something that is the perfect fit.
Is she really into any eras?
Maybe she is a big antique jewellery fan and loves wearing or viewing items from historical eras such as Georgian or Victorian times. This might also dictate the style of ring you end up going for.
From the stone’s shape to the final setting, you’ll need to consider and cover all areas before finalising anything. Doing your research beforehand and being a detective can really pay off so you get her an engagement ring she loves.
The place where I work implemented a new branding with a new logo. I have polo shirts with the old logo that I need to recycle. I was inspired to make three headbands. Today, we had a contest to see who could come up with the most creative way to recycle the old logo shirts.
Below is my hubby and I about three years ago, wearing the polo shirts. We worked on the 4th of July and was celebrating the holiday when we came home.
JT and hubby in Polo shirt
I searched Youtube to find a simple and easy to follow DIY plan for making the headbags. This is the one that I found that I wanted to try.
I used a rotary cutter to cut the shirt into six 1 to 1/12 inch strips on my mat. The cutter worked pretty well but you can also use scissors. The polo shirts has a little more fraying so the rotary strip was easier to maneuver over the fabric. The polo material stretches and creates a tube after it is cut. The video is easy to follow and after I went over the steps a couple of times to make sure I was following the process. I finished the back of the headband with a glue gun and I sewed the seams by hand.
Sewing_Finished_Seam
And this is the finished product. A colleague liked the design, so I gave one of them to her.
Three_T_Shirt_headbands
Well I didn’t incorporate the logo into my design because I don’t think it would look right and it wouldn’t be as versatile, so I didn’t win the contest. Oh well! However, I feel like I did win because these headbands are well made and they can be worn in a lot of different ways. If you like wearing headbands while working out or you want to keep your hair off of your face, give these a try because they super easy and fun.
Learn More About JT Bubbling with Elegance and Grace is a place for life long learners. The Bubbling With Elegance And Grace team was created 14 years ago. A passion for fashion sparked a lifestyle blog for our Elegant Community to enjoy. We are thankful and in gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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